Vancouver Canucks’ Tyler Myers has earned an apology
At this point, the Vancouver Canucks know what they have in Tyler Myers. Tyler Myers is going to be Tyler Myers.
Fans had quickly grown tired of the veteran’s Jekyll-and-Hyde act on defense, and particularly with the mental gaffes that usually serve as precursors to goals against. Lately though, Myers hasn’t been half bad.
Anecdotally, some of this is due to Noah Juulsen’s return to the lineup; the former Montreal Canadiens defenseman has struggled quite a bit when given a regular role within the Canucks lineup. Even though Myers hasn’t been great by any means, he’s been good enough, and certainly an improvement over Juulsen.
Since Akito Hirose entered the lineup following Carson Soucy’s injury, a pairing of he and Myers has been dominant for the Vancouver Canucks. Across 13.6 minutes at 5-on-5 over three games, Hirose and Myers have an expected goals % of 80%, per MoneyPuck. In fact, out of all Canucks defense pairings to have played 10 minutes or more together, Myers features on each of the top-three.
- Hirose-Myers: 13.6 mins, 80% xG
- Friedman-Myers: 34 mins, 60.6% xG
- Hronek-Myers: 12.8 mins, 60% xG
If the Vancouver Canucks truly do have something in a Hirose-Myers pairing, they would be wise to keep Hirose with the NHL club going forward. Plus, it beats having to force Mark Friedman into playing on his off-hand side.
What happens when Soucy returns from injury, we can’t say. He’s already suffered two injuries, hasn’t played particularly well alongside Myers, and is signed for three more years. Irregardless, a split between the two defensemen seems to be the path of least resistance going forward.
After all, this is not to argue that Myers has a future in Vancouver, but more so that he deserves some credit for his improved performances.
Vancouver Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks: Best Bets and Preview
Game Preview
The Canucks and Sharks have very different location splits for tonight. The Canucks are 6-1-1 at home this season, while the Sharks are still in search of their first victory away from home. The Canucks have won seven of their last ten, while the Sharks have lost seven of their last ten. Head to head, the Canucks have the advantage as they’ve won and gone over their 3.5-team total line in ten straight against the Sharks.
Albeit, there isn’t value betting that straight at the -190 line it sits at now. An alternative angle to make the same bet is taking the Canucks Race To four goals at -145. In their last ten head-to-head games, the Sharks have only scored four or more goals in two games. Of those two games, the Canucks scored four before the Sharks did in both games. I’ll be pivoting to this angle for tonight’s game.
Canucks Player Props
Filip Hronek Point (-130)
Filip has had a hard time staying off the score sheet this season. He has registered a point in fourteen of eighteen games this season, totalling eighteen points. Hronek has recorded a point in all eight of the Canucks home games this season, totalling eleven points. Hronek has an impressive history against the Sharks, with points in four of his last five games, totalling six points. The Sharks allow the most goals against in the league, averaging 4.3 per game.
Andrei Kuzmenko Goal (+213)
Kuzmenko has yet to score on home ice this season, which is surprising as he had 23 goals in 41 home games last season. Kuzmenko gets up for the games against the Sharks. He has nine points in five career games against the Sharks, his highest point total against any team. In those five games, he goals in four of them. Head coach Rick Tocchet this morning said that the Mikheyev-Pettersson-Kuzmenko line needs to push the pace as they’re playing too methodically, per Brendan Batchelor. Tocchet also said, “Kuzy needs to start playing harder.” when asked if he benched Kuzmenko in the second period of their last game, per Thomas Drance. After being called out by your coach to the media, this should light a fire under Kuzmenko tonight to prove his coach wrong and get his first goal on home ice.
